Improvement in modes of burning hydrocarbon liquids



N. PETERS, PHOTO-UTHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D CA UNITED STATES PATENT@Errea CLARK FISHER, OF TRENTON, N. J., ASSIGNOR TO SIMON STEVENS, OFNEW YORK CITY; ANI) SIMON STEVENS ASSIGNOR 'IO CLARK FISHER.

IMPROVEMENT IN MODES OF BURNING HVDROCARBON LIQUIDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 67, 108, dated July 23,1867'.

To all 'whom t't may concern:

3 assistant engineer in the Navy of the United States, of Trenton, inthe county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented a new anduseful Mode of Burning Petroleum and other Hydrocarbon Liquids for theProduction of Heat and Light, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention consists, first, in so placing the apparatus,relatively to the heut produced, that it (the apparatus) will not besubjected to the action of the heat, and will, consequently, not beliable to be stopped up or rendered unserviceablc by the deposition ofsolid carbon or of tar, which depositions I have discovered, byextensive experiments, always follow when the apparatus is itselfsubjected to heat; second, in the employment of ajet of steam fordelivering the liquid hydrocarbon in the form of spray for combustion,the use of thesteam being to atomize or separate the liquid hydrocarboninto extremely small particles, and to thoroughly mingle them withatmospheric air, the air being introduced, in the case of asteam-boiler, partly through gratebars or perforated plates, and partlyby means of a current induced by the action ofthe steam jet itself;third, in the adaptation of means of adjusting the relative quantitiesof steam and liquid hydrocarbon used, so as to obtain the best economicresult from the two materials as a whole.

I regard the steam used in this operation not as a combustible itself orsupporter of combust-ion, but as performing two important me chanicalfunctions-one in breaking the liquid hydrocarbon up into minutedivisions or spray, and the other in inducing a current of atmosphericair to the saine place of combustion with these minute particles ofliquid hydrocarbon.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I givethe following full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thespecification, in which- Figure 1, a and b are front view and verticalsection, respectively, of a common form of boiler, having four of my jetapparatus applied to each furnace. Fig. 2, c is a section through theaxis mx, Fig, 3, ot'one of myjet apparatus; and Fig. 2, d the saineviewed in the direction offits axis. Fig. 3 is a plan view of theapparatus with the air-tube C detached.

Referring now to Fig. 2, A is a nozzle, whose upper part receives thesteam, which, turning at right angles, discharges through the hollowconic frustum A' into the air-tube C in the direction y y of the axis ofC. Within the hollow conic frustum A' is another hollow conic frustum,B, and the axes of both frustums are in the saine straight line y y.

B can be screwed forward orbackward in A.' by means of the screw-thread,where it (B) passes through the back or closed end of A'. Some of theexterior surface of B, when screwed as far forward as possible, touchessome of the inner surface of A', thereby preventing any discharge ofsteam into C. By screwing B backward from this position an annular jetof steam is discharged, of any thickness of annulus desired. Theexpenditure of steam of given pressure is thus regulated, while thevelocity of its efflux remains undiminished.

Through the center of the whole length of B is the channel for thepassage of the petrolleum or hydrocarbon liquid used. The expenditure ofthis liquid is regulated by a cock or valve,0f ordinary construction, inthe pipe connecting the outer end of B with the reservoir containing theliquid. A similar cock is also placed, for convenience, in thesteam-pipe attached to A; but when the expenditureV of steam is thusregulated, instead of by screwing B backward or forward, the velocity ofits efflux from A' is diminished, and a less economic result obtained.

To obtain a more thorough mixture of the liquid hydrocarbon with theatmospheric air, whereby a more rapid and perfect combustion is caused,I employ the air-tube C, which is a hollow conic frustum of properdiameter and length. This air-tube surrounds the jet issuing from A',and has its axis in the same straight line with that of A'. Its use isto retain and properly direct the current of atmospheric air induced bythe jet of mingled steam and hydrocarbon liquid rushing from A', therebymore effectually mixing the liquid hydrocarbon spray with theatmospheric air, thus putting it in the best condition for rapid andperfect combustion.

The 'modus operandi of m y invention is that steam, beingl admittedthrough A and A', surrounds,as an annulus, B,and induces, through B, acurrent of liquid hydrocarbon, which liquid the steam atoinizes, orbreaks up into the form of very tine spray, and projects the sameforward into the chamber or place Where the combustion is effected. Themixed current of steam and liquid hydrocarbon induces a currentofatmospheric air, which is projected with them through C into thechamber Where the combustion is effected, and which combustion it makesmore rapid and more perfect. Additional air can also be supplied fromindependent sources, as through the grate-bars and holes in thefurnacedoor and front of a steam-boiler.

The entire apparatus is exterior to the chainber or place where thecombustion is effected, and, being not subjected to heat. is notrendered nnserviceable by the deposition in it of tar or of solidcarbon.

am aware that mixtures of hydrocarbon vapor and steam, and ofhydrocarbon vapor,

steam, and air, have been used before, but` with the apparatus subjectedto the heat of the combustion, and, consequently, soon renderedunserviceable by the deposition of tar and solid carbon in it.

Having thus described my invention, and

-the mode substantially in Which I contemplate CLARK FISHER.

Witnesses:

WM. L. NIcoLL, B. F. TROXELL.

